Athletes tend to avoid sugary sodas like the plague. They pack a ton of calories with little to no nutritional value, and wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels, making energy crashes inevitable.
While a drink now and then is fine, too much alcohol can severely hinder recovery, mess with your sleep, and dehydrate you. There’s a reason why athletes only pop out the champagne after winning — they have to keep the drinking to a minimum if they hope to stay on top of their game.
Just because it's not technically sugar doesn't mean it's any better for you — in fact, it might even be more harmful than regular sugar. Artificial sweeteners bring with them a whole new slate of problems, like messing with your gut and potentially leading to worse cravings and overeating in the long run.
Although filling, refined carbs often contain little to no nutritional value, especially in comparison to their whole-food counterparts. What’s worse, they tend to cause a quick spike in blood sugar levels, leading to an energy crash that no athlete wants to deal with when looking to reach the peak of their abilities.
While delicious, fried foods are not an athlete's friend — in fact, they’re not even an acquaintance! Not only are they hard on the stomach, but they’re also jam-packed with unhealthy fats that can lead to feeling tired and weighed down.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Wise words from a wise man: Muhammad Ali. But you won’t be floating when you’re plagued with bloating and discomfort.
Caffeine is a tremendous (and almost magical) tool for sustained focus, productivity, and performance. However, too much caffeine can often lead to anxiety, an upset stomach, and trouble sleeping.
Margarine and seed oils are some of the most highly processed sources of fat on the market and should generally be avoided at all costs. People perceive fat as the enemy when in reality our bodies need fats to thrive — healthy fats, that is!
Salads are a great way to add loads of healthy vitamins and nutrients to your diet. Yet, for some reason, people insist on ruining them with unhealthy, store-bought dressings. Bottled dressings can be a hidden source of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and tons of salt.